The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-12
SPANISH LEGENDS
Current Among the Old Mines of
Plateros.

The mining camp of Plateros is stu
ated in the district of Fresnillo, in the
State of Zacatecas, about league dis
tant from the town of Fresnillo. Its
discovery, as related in tradition was
asfollows: Some silversmiths (plateroS)
were journeying toward Durango,
carrying in chest an image of Christ
upon the cross, when they were over
taken by a heavy rain, and were obliged
to pass the night upon one of the small
hills near FresnillO. The storm ceased,
and the men, after disposlng their
sacred burden safely in the midst of
their baggage, built huge campfire,
and, seated in "A circle around it, supped
upon their thick cakes of corn-four
and savory strips of jerked beef. 1t is
to be supposed that, being friends all
on the road, and with stomachs full,
they would give free play to their
tongues. In good truth, they dis
coursed of storms and tempests, of
swollen rivers, of highway robbers, and
all the dangers that menace those who
travel. Then the talk turned upon
themes of arithmetic and finance, and
very naturally 1t resulted that the good
fellows took stock of their exchequer.
which proved to contain joint capital
of barely twenty dollars.
eff only the Lord would bestow upon
us money" one Of them exclaimed, in
tone of melancholy.
Nothing is impossible to Him." re-
piled another.
81 know that well enough; still, !
don't see how we are to become rich. "
ooh, thou art doubling Thomas.
Every thing comes easy to God"
"But it must be asked for"
"Then let us ask now"
The silversmiths accordingly kneeled
before the chest that contained the holy
image, and fervently recited creed.
Then, enwrapping themselves in their
EGrapeS, they laid themselves down be-
side the fire, and doubtless slept. The
next morning the wind had swept away
the ashes where their campfire had
blazed, and there, glistening in the
first rays of the rising sun, was bright
and shining ingot of silver that the fire
had smelted from the rock. The silver.
smiths, it may readily be believed
went no further with their image, but
began straightway to work the mines
where they shortly erected chapel tc
Our Lady of the Silversmiths, whence
the mines are named.
1 do not hold myself responsible fol-
the truth of this narrative. can only
vouch for the fact that the mines ant
the chapel are in existence to-day
One afternoon friend invited me t.
visit that same mine, and we set out &C
coniAgly. Nothing could be'sadder OF
lond. Fhan the situation; dry gulch
wits u1ew gray houses of adobe scat
ed at the foot of the low hills, and
horizon line of brown hills, bare o
verdure-such is Plateros. 1t is, how
ever, very rich, the leads of dense sui
pilates cropping out on the surface
As my knowledge of mining is of tn
slightest, l suggested to my compan
ion that we should visit the church
whose architecture is fine, and its di
mansions all too ample for the few c
the faithful in the little town.
Before we go into the church, " re
marked my companion, 81 wish to It
late to you a tradition"
"You have the word" I answered
Sand that with all my heart As tn
botanists go nosing about in search
unknown plants, and the mineralogist